From Food Security Bill to women and children safety, Sonia Gandhi's pet projects get a boost in Union Budget 2013

It was a triumph of Sonianomics and Rahul-nomics as Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's Budget bore a clear stamp of the Congress president and vice-president.

Despite concerns about the widening fiscal deficit, the Budget did not dilute the redistributive agenda, which has been the cornerstone of Sonia's brand of politics. The finance minister also displayed generosity in providing funds for the Congress leadership's pet projects. Chidambaram has allotted Rs 10,000 crore to cover the incremental cost required for implementing the food security Bill. This would be in addition to the existing food subsidy, which Chidambaram pegged at Rs 90,000 crore for 2013-14.

"The National Food Security Bill is a promise of the UPA government. I sincerely hope that Parliament will pass the Bill as early as possible," Chidambaram said in his Budget speech. Keeping in mind the concerns of Sonia as well as the enhanced sensitivity on gender issues following the Delhi gangrape, Chidambaram attached special emphasis on the interests of women and children.

He asserted that combining the various women-oriented schemes from various ministries, the gender Budget would amount to Rs 97,134 crore. The Budget for children-oriented schemes has been pegged at Rs 77,236 crore for the FY14. Chidambaram also announced the formation of the first exclusive public sector bank for women. This idea is said to have been mooted by Congress vice-president Rahul and it was part of the declaration issued by the party after its chintan shivir (brainstorming session) in Jaipur last month. The bank will be set up in October this year with an initial capital of Rs 1,000 crore. According to Rahul's plan, the funds will be used to provide loans to women's self-help groups (SHGs) across the country.

Another significant measure for women that is said to have been introduced at Sonia's insistence, Chidambaram announced the setting up of a Rs 1,000 crore fund for women's safety. Rahul's stamp could also be seen in certain duties and taxes imposed by the finance minister. Many believe that the super-rich tax - the 10 per cent tax on people earning above Rs 1 crore per year - as well as the duty on imported luxury goods such as high- end automobiles, motorcycles, yachts and similar vessels are motivated by Rahul's brand of redistributive politics.

Reiterating the government's commitment to Rahul's pet scheme, Chidambaram announced that the direct benefit transfer scheme will be rolled out throughout the country during the UPA government's tenure.